Tenure Elongation Crisis Rocks National Assembly, CNA, Gbajabiamila Fingeredfactsheet.ngTenure Elongation Crisis Rocks National Assembly, CNA, Gbajabiamila Fingered
A new crisis is brewing within the National Assembly (NASS) bureaucracy over an alleged plan by the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mr. Olatunde Amos Ojo to elongate his tenure in flagrant disregard for National Assembly Condition of Service rules.
Mr. Ojo according to his service records is billed to proceed on mandatory terminal leave on Monday 14 November, 2022, but there has been series of maneuvers allegedly orchestrated by the outgoing CNA and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to perpetuate Ojo in office.
A source at the NASS who spoke to FACTSHEET on the condition of anonymity reiterated that the Condition of Service of the National Assembly makes it mandatory for all staff of the NASS who is due for retirement to proceed on a three-month retirement leave.
However, in what has been described as a “flagrant and irresponsible” disregard for the NASS both the outgoing CNA and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were accused to have leaped the National Assembly Service (NASC), the employers of the CNA, and wrote the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) seeking interpretation of the Civil Service Rule (CSR), which according to the source does not in any way apply to the staff of the NASS.
In a letter (HCSF/314/93) written and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the HCSF, confirmed that the Speaker indeed wrote to the Head of Service through a letter dated November 10, 2022 seeking the interpretation of the civil service rule in relation to retirement of staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Also, the Speaker again through a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Olarenwaju Smart (NASS/SPK/ADM/VOL.1/5288) wrote to the National Assembly Service Commission on the same subject matter.
The actions of both the Speaker and Mr. Ojo, according the source that spoke to FACTSHEET were not necessary, as all matters relating to the staff of the NASS are determined by the NASC and not the Head of Service of the Federation. According to the source, the National Assembly is strictly an Arm of the Government and does not fall under the MDAs description.
Reiterating the above position, the NASC is a letter addressed to the outgoing CNA with reference no, NASC/CHO/IC/1/13 dated August 26, 2022 and received in the office of the CNA on August 28, 2022, the commission noted with dismay the disregard of the commission by the outgoing CNA. In expressing its displeasure, the commission’s letter noted, “The Commission has also noted your direct communication with the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on a policy matter despite being a staff of the National Assembly Service.
“This should have been done by or with the express permission of the commission. This breach must be avoided in the future.”
Olatunde OJO
FACTSHEET checks revealed that all former Clerks to the National Assembly had always proceeded on terminal leave, three months before their retirement from service. Records show that the NASC accordingly appoints the “acting CNA” on the day the outgoing Clerk proceeds on their terminal leave.
Reps Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila
Former Clerks of the NASS who also followed the rules include, Dr. Adamu Fika, Ibrahim Nasir Arab, Oluyemi Ogunyemi, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and Mohammed Sani Omolori.
It is to be noted that Mr. Olatunde Ojo, the outgoing CNA was also a beneficiary of this established tradition and rule of the National Assembly Service Commission
In a related development, the governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal has been accused of dolling out a N700million bribe money to some members of the National Assembly Service Commission to influence the appointment of the new Clerk to
Rumours are ripe within both the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission that Governor Tambuwal was pushing to install his townsman, Sanni Magaji Tambuwal, the current Secretary (equivalent to Federal Permanent Secretary) of the Finance and Accounts Department as the new CNA.
The allegations, however, have not been proven.
However, sources at the NASS confirm that Mr. Sani Tambuwal was seriously pushing for the number one seat of the Nigeria’s apex parliament.
The NASS sources told, FACTSHEET that the National Assembly bureaucracy clearly demarcates career part for its staff, noting that staff are groomed through “legislative experience” in preparation for them to manage the parliament, Mr. Sani Tambuwal is said to lack any legislative experience.
According to the source, only staff of the NASS who were groomed through the legislative process can qualify to occupy the position of the Clerk to the NASS. It is to be noted that the CNA is recognized in the Nigeria constitution as the no 1 parliamentarian in Nigeria and therefore, anyone occupying the position must have a legislative background.
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